AusBonsai

Hi Guys

I have been putting off posting pics of my pride and joy for a while as you never know how others may percive a tree. Also that photos do this tree no justice.

My Rusty leaf Fig was aquired threw as with a few other trees i listed previosly a earderly gentleman whos health no longer permitted him to look after his trees.
This tree was in his possesion for 25 years and it was given it to him buy a lady who lost her husband and moved into a nursing home.She had the tree for approx another 20 years growing happily in a baby pool " blue shell type you know the one " .

The tree measures 3 foot long with a canopy of about 3.5 feet by 1.5 wide. It has some aerial roots that are 1 and a half inch round and others measuring 2cm round with a whole host of new ones just reaching the ground now! This is a photo log of my epic task of re0potting it a couple weekends ago after it had been growing in a chaffing dish for at least the past 5 to 10 years.

The new pot was purchased from Ray Nesci after searching his private stock we found a suitable pot to accomidate the root trunk that has stretched to 3 feet.
My plan is to concentrate on bringing the tree to full health with some TLC and in the coming season develope some height on the canopy.

I would love to know what peoples thoughts are on this tree

Regard Mick

I like the idea of an aerial root raft style and have seen it done succesfully before; Ric R has one in Sydney that he did probably over 20 years ago.

Your intial plan sounds fine (health first) and then some time to think on future styling.

Have a look in nature/on line.

Grant

Thanks for sharing Mick. It looks like a really interesting old tree. It has so much character that you will need to look and listen to it for a while before deciding on a direction. Gaining height in the canopy wasn't my first idea, I would be inclined to develop form and structure in the secondary branches - possibly wire them next season when vigour has returned. A photo from above would be useful.

Like where this is heading. Be sure to take a few pics of it in the nude for us ficusophiles

VelvetSicklid wrote:Like where this is heading. Be sure to take a few pics of it in the nude for us ficusophiles

Will do Velvet Cichlid it is so tempting to defoliate when u get a fig but due to its history and and lack of love in the past re-potting and getting it green again is my first priority i would hate to kill a tree with such a history and character

Now thats a real rubiginosa, the rusty underside to the leaves is something not seen on most so called "rubiginosa". I really like this tree, has a very natual feel to it as opposed to man made look we normally end up with.

Also i'd love to see some of the ferns back in there, they really add to that natural feel

Love it nice look of age look forward to more updates

Good plan, health first develop it later. I look forward to updates as you start the ramification progress.

Hornet wrote:Also i'd love to see some of the ferns back in there, they really add to that natural feel

Thanks Hornet those ferns are here to stay they ar embeded around the root i trimmed them back to have a real good look at the tree but even since these photos were taken the ferns are making a comeback i think they are here to stay with this tree. Thanks again for your comments.

Cheers Mick

good to hear, they really do add to the natural look of this tree

Beautiful tree, I love the natural tropical look that you've got in this bonsai. Thanks for sharing Mick

pasquale wrote:Thanks for sharing Mick. It looks like a really interesting old tree. It has so much character that you will need to look and listen to it for a while before deciding on a direction. Gaining height in the canopy wasn't my first idea, I would be inclined to develop form and structure in the secondary branches - possibly wire them next season when vigour has returned. A photo from above would be useful.

Hi Pasquale

Here is the best pic i can get from above.

Thanks for sharing Mick, great looking fig and the progression /repotting shots were great, keep us posted

Hey Mick,

Thanks for sharing your unique Rusty fig, I look forward to seeing where you take it over the next 25-30yrs. I would find it very hard making the first cut but ultimately you have to look to the trees future.

Matt